Will McDonald, Jets
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New York Jets pass rusher Will McDonald reacting in the middle of an NFL game.
The New York Jets are just eight days out from what has become one of the most anticipated games across the entire NFL in Week 1, taking on Aaron Rodger’s Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium.
The Jets entire roster has been reimagined, but one area that has maintained some continuity is the pass rush. Former first round pick Will McDonald recorded a double digit sack season in Year 2, forcing a pair of fumbles in 17 games.
The Steelers, on the other hand, are hoping to finally build continuity between their two young tackles. Last year’s first round pick, Troy Fautanu, will be making his NFL debut Sunday afternoon, as pointed out by writer Michael Nania.
“After suffering a knee injury in the preseason, Fautanu returned in Week 2 to make his NFL debut, starting at right tackle,” Nania recounts.
This means the Jets’ premier pass rusher will be lined up against a player who has never taken a snap in the NFL. When you talk about finding a winning edge, this is the kind of matchup you point to.
With an older, largely immobilized quarteback in the backfield, McDonald can change the game on third-and-gotta-have-it downs.
Steelers Left Tackle Is Also New
The second most important position in sports, left tackle, will also have a new occupant in the Steel City.
Its Broderick Jones, the offensive tackle that was selected just one pick before McDonald in 2023, that Mike Tomlin will be asking to learn a new position.
He started his first two seasons in the league at right tackle. Last year the second-year tackle graded out as the 89th ranked tackle on Pro Football Focus. He started all 17 games, posting a measly pass blocking grade of 54.6.
Now he will be asked to protect Rodgers blind side. Jones is fortunate that the Jets do not have a proven secondary pass rush threat at this point in the season. Jermaine Johnson is a high caliber pass rusher, but coming off an Achilles tear it is impossible to know what he will look like in the beginning weeks of the season.
Michael Clemons is the favorite to draw this matchup. The fourth-year end is coming off his best season yet, generating 4.5 quarterback sacks in 17 games last season. He will draw a good matchup in another area New York hopes to find a winning edge.
McDonald Promoted To Full Time Left Side Rush
It appears as though head coach Aaron Glenn’s new system will have McDonald coming off the left end more often than not. Whether this was the plan coming in, or something Glenn found on the tape, Nania provided some insight into the decision.
“Across his first two NFL seasons, McDonald recorded 11 sacks on 288 pass-rush snaps from the left side of the line, compared to three sacks on 216 pass-rush snaps from the right side,” Nania wrote. “A full-time switch to the left side will raise McDonald’s sack ceiling to unbelievable levels. For his career, he has averaged one sack every 26.2 pass-rush snaps when rushing from the left side.”
Nania provided a full multi-page breakdown on McDonald’s pass rush tendencies, if you’re into that kind of thing.